It's that time of year again! On July 18, the 12th season of the hit fashion reality show Project Runway will premiere on Lifetime, making 15 relatively unknown designers from across the country instantly famous.

But who are this season's competitors, and what are they bringing to the table that's different from past seasons? Among their ranks are a Broadway costume designer, a deaf college professor, a former male model, and an art gallery manager who spent eight years in the Army working as a mechanic. It's an eclectic bunch of people who have a variety of different experiences: while some have taken more traditional routes to industry success, others are entirely self-taught.

Before the show's first episode premieres, we invite you to get to know the contestants, here in the gallery.